Using Wood Forensic Science to Deter Corruption and Illegality in the Timber Trade

Corruption and crime in the forestry sector are closely interrelated. Much of the world‚'s remaining primary forests containing high-value timber are found in countries with weak governance, where corruption is systemic and forest crime is rampant. One reason that the illegal wood trade and the corruption that facilitates it have flourished is that, by laundering illegal wood in supply chains in ways that make it difficult to distinguish from legal wood, criminals and corrupt actors have generally evaded scrutiny. Wood forensic science has the potential to reveal illicit activities that are otherwise easily disguised, bringing a new level of transparency and accountability to the international timber trade.

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This content is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States Government, or individual TNRC consortium members.